Page 148 - Friendships Through the Years

There were a number of visitors at the annual general meeting. They included Bill
and Barbara Woodruff representing the M.O.E.R. President Jean Foster and Judy
Holdsworth from the Lilydale Ladies Probus; and an old friend of our Club (who had
entertained us on many occasions) President Phil Herry, and his wife, Beryl representing
the Rotary Club of Lilydale.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Harry Brennan, Jack Coffey and
George Sank for their exceptional service to the Club over many years.
The April newsletter commenced with a new-look format thanks to Len Buckman
who undertook the task of compiling and printing the document. There was a message
from the new President. Martin Taylor wrote:

“Our biggest challenge during the next six months is to lift the Club’s
membership numbers. With the recent spate of resignations, mostly due to
members shifting away from the area, we need at least eight (8) new members to
help the Club’s growth and viability. Bert Milgate will be looking for your
support during our membership drive in the months ahead.”

Carl Adamson reported on the very successful M.O.E.R. annual picnic at Maroondah
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Dam, Healesville on 30 March 1998. Two Police Bands and a vocalist entertained
members and ladies who attended. One was the Police Brass Band and the other was a
Dixieland Band. (Note - this so inspired the committee that 18 months later, they
arranged that the Club were entertained at the December 1999 “Millenium” meeting and
barbecue by the same Police Dixieland Band.)
Harry and Marj. Brennan celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary in April
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1998. The April 1997 newsletter congratulated Harry and Marj upon attaining their 49
anniversary and said: “only another year before you really have to dig deep into your
pocket, Harry!” We can only assum e that Harry did indeed “dig deep”.
President Martin congratulated immediate past president Fred Harding on the
excellent job that he had made of building an equipment and storage cupboard in the
Community Hall’s storage room.
A new innovation at our meetings was the introduction of a “door prize” at our
April meeting. The first winner was our Almoner, Ted Brookes. A visitor, Audrey
Bennett, whose husband, William, was inducted as a new member at the next (May)
meeting, drew his lucky number. Stan Pickersgill organised the draw at the April meeting
and has carried out the task ever since, except he no longer draws out numbers to match
the ticket handed out at the door. He has a bag with every (we think) member’s name in
it. One of the “liabilities” of winnin g the door prize was (and still is) that the recipient is
automatically on the kitchen washing up roster to help Jack Coffey, at the following
meeting. So far, Jack Coffey has not won the door prize!
Past president Les Wanstall, in moving that the resignation of George Sank, who,
with his wife, Joan, had recently moved to Queensland be accepted with regret, also
requested that a letter of appreciation for his services to the Club since he joined in March
1987 be forwarded to him.
To quote from the Minutes of the Committee of Management meeting held on
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13 May 1998: